Iconic Oval gasholder hosts trailblazing cricketing first

The world’s most iconic gasholder became the stage of a cricketing masterclass today, as teams from the Lord’s Taverners, Surrey Cricket Club and Berkeley played matches at Oval Village in London.

Cricketing legend Mike Gatting, and England and Surrey learning disabilities player, Jonny Gale took to the improvised crease to help celebrate the Berkeley Foundation’s £750,000 commitment to the ground-breaking Super 1s disability cricket programme. This award-winning community cricket programme, which provides young people with a disability aged 12-25 the opportunity to play regular cricket and enjoy the benefits of playing sport, is delivered by the Lord’s Taverners in partnership with county cricket boards across the country.

The games took place within the frame of the world-famous Oval gasholder, which has formed the backdrop to over 3,000 cricket games at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground for the past 145 years.

This Grade II Listed ironwork stands over 130 feet tall and has been out of use since 2014. The giant structure is now starting a second inning of its own as a multi-million refurbishment project gets underway to preserve the well-loved landmark.

Nearly 200 homes are set to be built inside its frame as part of Berkeley’s wider Oval Village regeneration project, which will create more than 1,300 private and affordable homes on this once derelict brownfield site. Many of the homes inside the gasholder building will have direct views into the Kia Oval, with a communal roof terrace where all residents can watch the cricket next door.

England learning disabilities cricketer and Super 1s Coach, Jonny Gale, said:

“As a programme ambassador, and one of many coaches in the UK that helps deliver Super 1s, I was delighted to hear the news that the Berkeley Foundation are putting a further £750,000 into the programme.

I cannot wait to see how many more young people and communities will benefit from this. As someone who has coached on the programme for over three years now, I’ve been able to witness the positive impact that Super 1s has on young people with a disability, and their families, and this funding will ensure that we can help even more young people moving forward.”

Paul Vallone, Chairman of Berkeley St Edward, said:

“This fun event celebrates two fantastic cricketing milestones. The first is the Berkeley Foundation’s commitment to the life-changing Super 1 disability cricket programme for a further three years, giving thousands of young people the chance to realise their potential on and off the pitch. And second is the launch of our project to repair and restore this iconic gasholder for the next generation of local people and cricket fans to enjoy. A huge thank you to all of the fantastic partners who made this possible.”

Lord’s Taverners Trustee and former President, Mike Gatting, said:

“As someone who played in the shadow of the gas holder throughout my career, it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to play in it this evening alongside participants of the Super 1s programme that the Berkeley Foundation has been so generous in supporting for over 10 years now. Our partnership with the Foundation has been a game changer for grassroots disability cricket and positively impacted young people with a disability across the country in so many ways. We’re incredibly grateful that the Foundation has committed to supporting Super 1s for a further three years to help continue its growth and impact.”

Jon Surtees, Head of Community at Surrey County Cricket Club, said:

“We’re excited to partner with Lord’s Taverners and Berkeley Homes to celebrate both the legacy of the incredible gasholder that has looked over our ground since 1852 and the amazing work being done by the Lord’s Taverners to provide opportunities through their brilliant Super 1s programme.

Surrey CCC is proud to have been part of a vibrant and diverse community in Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall for 179 years and we’re excited as the future of the area continues to take shape.”